Thomas Dorman, Sr.

Biography

From https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.dorman/153.159.165.167.176...

Thomas Dorman was born about 1600, probably in England, though his name does not appear on any of the passenger lists to this country. The first documentary evidence of his presence here is found in the records of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which awarded him the status of Freeman on March 4, 1634/5 in Boston (Records, v.1, p. 370). The surname of his wife, Ellen, is not known, nor is it known whether they married before or after their arrival.

Thomas settled in Ipswich, MA about 1634, shortly after the arrival there of Gov. John Winthrop's company. In that year he received a land grant of four acres of meadowland (Ipswich Antiquarian papers, v. 4, p. 200). In 1637, his signature appeared on a petition signed by fifty freemen of Ipswich lamenting the departure from that town of John Winthrop, Jr. (MHS, Series 2, v. 3, p. 199). In 1641, Thomas was listed as a commoner of Ipswich, and before 1646, he sold land and a building to Joseph Morse. In July of 1646, "Esaiyas Wood, apprentice to Mr. Dorman of Ipswich, (was) convicted of an attempt to force the body of his master's chld."(Records and Files, v. 2, p. 100) On May 1, 1651, Thomas bought a farm of one hundred acres in Topsfield, MA from Samuel Symonds, and he moved there shortly thereafter. Over the years, by grants and purchase, he continued to acquire land, in Rowley and Boxford, as well as in Topsfield, becoming one of the town's largest landowners. Between 1657 and 1660, he served on several juries, and he was listed as one of 28 commoners in Topsfield in 1661. As a "layer of lots", Thomas was called on to testify in a number of land cases, and in 1664 he was also a witness in a case involving domestic abuse (Records and Files, V.3, p. 193-4). Town records indicate that he was excused from military training in 1656 and again in 1665. In 1656, Thomas was fined by the court for not warning the freemen of the town about an upcoming meeting to nominate magistrates.

Ellen died in Topsfield Feb. 27, 1667/8 and Thomas on April 25, 1670. His will, written the day before his death and witnessed by Francis Peabody and John How, describes him as "being about seventy years old." (Essex Probate, #8166) The land is divided between his two surviving sons; the elder inherits also "my feather-bed and bolster, my biggest iron pot, a trammel, my great timber chain, one draft chain, a spanshackle and two shares of the household stuff." The younger receives "my ring and three blankets, two little pots, a trammel, two draft chains and one share of the household stuff." There follows a list of money, goods and services owed to Thomas by others, as well as a list of his debts to others. A curious bequest goes to "my cousin Daniel Bradly, two petticoats, two waistcoats and two bodices."

The mention of Daniel Bradl(e)y in this will, and the reference by Thomas, Jr. in a 1663 court document to "my uncle George Hadley"(Records and Files, v.3, p. 36)might provide clues for the English origins of Thomas and the identity of Ellen, but nothing has been proven so far. (New England Marriages Prior to 1700)

Children, probably born in Ipswich, but not recorded:

• 1. John, b. c. 1637; m. Mary COOPER.
• 2. Thomas, b.c. 1640; m. Judith WOOD.
• 3. Ephraim, bc. 1645; m. Mary ___.

An unnamed daughter is seen also.

Comments

Thomas Dorman's wife was named Ellen Hadley. This information is found on this web page, and collaborates with my information, so I believe it to be true.

http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p24...

Thomas's children were not born in Ipswitch, they were all born in Topsfield.

General References:

• http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Topsfield/aDeathsD.shtml "(Dorman) Ellen, w. Thomas, sr., Feb. 27, 1667-8. CTR"
• Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex Co. 1636-1686, Vols. 1-9.
• History of Topsfield, George F. Dow, 1940.
• History of Ipswich, Joseph B. Felt, 1836.
• Essex County, MA Probate and Land Records.
• Ipswich Antiquarian papers, 1879-1885.
• New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Clarence A. Torrey, 1985
• Reocrds of Massachusetts Bay, v.1, Boston, 1853.
• Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, Series 2, v.3.
• Thomas Dorman of Topsfield, MA by Franklin Abbott Dorman, 1994
• Walter Goodwin Davis, Book of Wild, Wilds, Wildes of Topsfield, Massachusetts (Dudley Wildes - 1759 -1820) (The Anthoensen Press - Portland Maine - 1959)
• New England Marriages Prior to 1700 By Clarence Almon Torrey. Page 227. GoogleBooks